What a wonderful time to find an empty terrace, plot of grass, sunny corner and grab an inspiring nature loving book.
Top 9 Environmental Books that will make you fall in love with Nature
Braiding Sweetgrass Robin Wall Kimmer
I read a chapter from Braiding Sweetgrass every morning while enjoying my coffee and lemon water by the window. This book is full of wonder, poetry, science, and awe.
“As a botanist, Robin Wall Kimmerer has been trained to ask questions of nature with the tools of science. As a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, she embraces the notion that plants and animals are our oldest teachers. In Braiding Sweetgrass, Kimmerer brings these two lenses of knowledge together to take us on “a journey that is every bit as mythic as it is scientific, as sacred as it is historical, as clever as it is wise” (Elizabeth Gilbert).
Give A Sh*t Ashlee Piper
If you are into Zero Waste and Sustainability - AKA if you are concerned about the health of our planet - Get this book!
Piper walks you through a detailed zero waste living guide and explains the “Why” to everything.
She makes sustainable living so easy and transforms your bedroom, living room, cleaning products, kitchen, bathroom, closets, and eating habits.
An Indigenous People’s History of the United States Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz
You live on Indigenous land… it’s about time you start understanding the history.
Dubar-Ortiz gives you the harsh reality of how whitewashed American History is and provides you an in-depth History Lesson through the eyes of the Natives. This is what should be taught in our school system.
Nature Fix Florence Williams
I could speak for hours about the importance of this book…
Williams uncovers why philosophers and artists have been inspired by nature by breaking down the science and psychology of how nature contributes to our overall human health.
Have you ever been in a tough conversation with a Right-Winged thinker and have been frustrated by how many “facts” the person can spew out? Well this book is the PERFECT solution for you! Full of malleable statistics so you can continue being in love with nature and have the scientific data (from all over the world!) to back you up.
The Giving Tree Shel Silverstein
We have all probably had our heart broken by this book numerous times. But have you revisited it as an adult?
This book inspired the second film in my Under Review Film Series. Silverstein brought light to the logging industry for me and how we phase out of the simplicity of childhood into the consumerism of adulthood. This story is the perfect balance of morals, family obligation, and the transformation of love.
The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse Charlie Mackesy
Oh my heart…
This book will take you 10 minutes to read but will have you revisiting for hours on end.
Full of beautiful art work and poignant universal messages, Mackesy will bring you back to what truly matters and how to be more kind with yourself and others.
Life of Pi Yann Martel
It may seem odd to include on this list, but this book is perfect for anyone interested in environmentalism.
Full of realism mixed with fantasy, Life of Pi takes you on an adventure through how we co-exist with nature. Martel connects spirituality, loneliness, wildlife, and the power of will while keeping you intrigued through the eyes of a boy trapped on a life boat with a tiger.
Skip the movie… the book is 20x more heartbreaking. I highly recommend listening on audiobook while walking.
The Hidden Life of Trees Peter Wohlleben
This is another book that deeply inspired the second film in the Under Review Film Series.
Wohlleben humanizes trees to create empathy and relation so we as humans can advocate for our forests. Even the layout of the book moves through the human cycles of relationships - friendship, lovers, communication, etc.
The Ayurvedic Self-Care Handbook Sarah Kucera
Ayurveda is the sister science of yoga and goes hand-in-hand with nature.
This self-care book has become my Bible over the past few months. While we are forced into this unknown time (but when do we ever really know what’s going on…), this handbook will keep you connected to nature’s cycles and give you the tools to ground and sustain during times of uncertainty.
Ayurveda promotes seasonal and local eating along with learning about your natural constitutions that influence your personality and body type.
If you are planning on purchasing any of these books I HIGHLY recommend to skip the amazon purchase (Jeff Bezos makes an insane amount of money with very little give back…) and support your local book store or BIPOC book stores.
Comment below with other recommendations or excited reads.
